In 1997 some Norwegian parents started a court case to try to gain the right to withdraw their children from KRL classes (Christian, Religious and Life Stance Education), which are very much slanted towards Christianity. This case subsequently went through every level of the Norwegian courts (with the parents being supported by the Norwegian Humanist Association), but without success. The case was then taken to the UN Human Rights Committee, which found in their favour. However, this ruling had only advisory status: its conclusions could not be imposed on the Norwegian Government.

Finally, the case came before the European Court of Human Rights, which at the end of June 2007 found that the KRL classes violated the European Human Rights Convention.

In its judgement, the Court stated:

“Not withstanding the many laudable legislative purposes associated with the introduction of KRL in the ordinary primary and lower secondary schools, Norway could not be said to have taken sufficient care that information and knowledge included in the curriculum be conveyed in an objective, critical and pluralistic manner for the purposes of Article 2 of Protocol No. 1.

“Accordingly, the refusal to grant the applicant parents full exemption from the KRL subject for their children gave rise to a violation of Article 2 of Protocol No. 1.”

The Education Minister subsequently said that he had taken note of the Court's ruling and would consider making necessary changes.